Dozens of cars, trucks and SUVs lined up Sunday in the Prosperity Bank parking lot on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, their drivers waiting patiently as two teams of men worked diligently to wash whatever came their way.

The car wash was a benefit for a local boy, Alex Fast, 14, who is in need of critical surgeries and a liver transplant. What made this effort special was the fact that most of the men working are homeless.

“It’s a chance for some people who are often on the receiving end of assistance to give some back,” said Virginia LaSalle, a local minister who organized the event. “I call it paying it forward, and they’re doing it with vigor.”

Carl Haliday didn’t know any of that when he stopped to get his Ford Explorer washed.

“They have charity car washes here a lot,” Haliday said. “So I figured it was for some good cause. But when I found out what it was all about, I felt even better about it.”

Haliday, 62, lost a brother to liver disease in 2006.

“He was on the wait list for a transplant too,” he said. “So my heart goes out to this young man. God bless him.”

As far as the homeless men helping, Haliday said it was “amazing and great to see.”

The average time it took to wash and dry each car was about five minutes.

“They ought to take this crew over to NASCAR,” he said, watching the men work. “They’re pretty fast, and they’re doing a great job.”

LaSalle devotes much of her time helping homeless individuals regain their sense of self worth. She worked right alongside the men dressed in a black sweat suit, her silvery hair glistening in the sun.

“There’s nothing better for rejuvenating your spirit than helping others,” she said. “I know that from personal experience. Once people stop dwelling on their own problems and work to help others, those problems seem a lot less overwhelming.”

LaSalle said a total of 12 homeless men showed up to help, several staying all day.

“This isn’t about me, it’s about them,” she said. “It’s about people turning their lives around by doing good. I’m just doing God’s work by helping them.”

The men worked hard, knowing they would receive no monetary compensation.

Karl Taylor said, “It’s an honor to be able to do this for him. It’s great to be giving back.”

He had raised his hand to volunteer after LaSalle asked for volunteers at the Sunday dinner for the homeless behind Pot Belly’s Cinema on Dec. 11.

Alex, who has been sick since he was 2 years old, had a liver transplant in 2004. Immunity complications and infections have created a need for additional surgery, as well as a second liver transplant.

LaSalle heard about Alex after another benefit that was held for him earlier this month at The Foundry. She contacted the event organizer, Aimee Wiles, and offered to help with an event of her own.

“That just blew me away,” said Wiles, who owns the High Tide Gallery downtown. “I mean, for somebody to offer something like this totally unsolicited, it really shows what the St. Augustine community has going for it.”

Michelle Smith, Alex’s mother, was particularly touched by the gesture.

“When I heard that homeless people were going to be working to help Alex, it brought tears to my eyes,” Smith said. “I mean, that’s amazing, that they’re giving back like this.”

Armando Garcia, owner of a mobile car cleaning business, Major League Auto Detailing, supplied all the equipment and materials needed for the car wash. He learned about it from a neighbor, a man who used to be homeless.

“As soon as I heard what it was about, I wanted to help,” Garcia said. “To see these men giving back to the community and helping that boy, it’s very touching.”

Bill and Nina Genovese, who stopped by to get their Jeep washed, echoed that sentiment.

“This is a wonderful cause,” said Nina Genovese. “We read about it in the paper, and wanted to be a part of it.”

Her husband, seated in the passenger seat beside her, agreed.

“It’s especially appropriate for this time of year,” he said. “And, of course, it’s important that boy gets a second chance.”

Alex stopped by with his mother to say hello. A devout Gator fan who dreams of one day meeting Tim Tebow, Alex wore bright orange and blue warm-up pants.

“This is great,” he said as he watched the men scrubbing the cars. “It’s very nice of them to do this.”

The price for a wash was $5, but many gave more than that, LaSalle said. Some gave a lot more.

“I had people hand me 50s and $100 bills,” LaSalle said. “I just can’t believe how big the hearts of people are here in St. Augustine.”

In all, the effort raised more than $1,200, she said.

All of the proceeds are going directly to Alex’s family. Though nobody had time to count the cars, there was a line for the entire three and a half hours of the event.

“When we got started this morning, I was thinking that if we raised even $100, it would be a success,” she said. “We’d raised that much in the first 20 minutes.”

Alex’s mother said she couldn’t have been more pleased.

“What a great event this has been, and a great turnout,” she said. “St. Augustine is a wonderful community, and we are lucky to live here.”

*

Learn more

Anyone wishing to contribute to Alex’s medical expenses can visit his page with Childrens Organ Transplant Organization (COTA) at cota.donorpages.com/PatientOnlineDonation/COTAforAlexF/

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Those of us who know our homeless neighbors well have seen this giving back in small and consistent ways over the years, most unseen by the general public. Many pick up trash and monitor outsiders who cause trouble in our community at risk to themselves. More opportunities like this need to happen to start dispelling the myth of homelessness. Everyone has a role to play in society. It's time to start thinking of ways for all of us to give and not just during holiday seasons but year round, when donations drop off but the need is still there. Kudos to Virginia LaSalle.